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COFiTOGHT DEPOSm 



^erronife, tfje *3nncicent/ 

or, 
tl)t (^ntsit of tiie ^olben lilasiin anb Bmmonb Hance 

(!^ne of tfje Sources; of Atones; about tfte J|o(j» (irail, 

S preton ^.egenb, after ^outiesitre, 

ilennetf) feplban (guttirie. 



Comparatiiie I^iterature ^resig 

182 Jflonroe g>tteet, proofelpn, il.|?. 






All Rights, including that of Translation Reserved. 
Copyright, 1915, by Kenneth Sylvan Guthrie. 



46. 



iTT 



JUL -8 1915 

CIA401695 



I 



INTRODUCTION: LOCATION OF KERGLAS. 

The definite location of the Castle of Kerglas was 
difficult to discover. For several years I asked every 
French and Breton authority in vain. Even Paul Sebillot 
inclined to the belief that the whole rriatter was an 
invention of Souvwestre's. Then I visited Charles Le 
Goffic at Rim Rouz en Tregastel; and he thought there 
were many Kerglas localities, the name meaning merely 
*'house of mourning." He, however, advised me to 
write to the deputy for Vannes, the Marquis d'Estour- 
billon, at his Chateau de Porhoet, at Avessac; and from 
the latter I finally received a letter, forwarded to me 
in America, that there was such a manoir at two miles 
from Vannes, on the Elven road, belonging to M. 
Lepan de Ligny, Avenue Mozart 109, xvi, Paris. Next 
summer (1914), I made several sketches of it, but 
v/hile doing so, it became perfectly plain to me that 
this could not have been the location of the castle, for 
it was neither on the summit of a hill, nor anywhere 
near a river. I therefore returned to the highway, and 
in the quarries on the top of the hill, I found indeed 
ruined emplacements of walls. Later in the day, in 
search of photographic reproductions theieof, I visited 
the interesting shop of M. Alphonse David, 4 rue Emile, 
"Au Gagne Petit," where this gifted artist in cards, 
aided by his able wife, received me kindly. To my 
explanations he listened with incredulity; for, said he, 
''I own part of those quarries myself, and I never 
heard of any ruins therein!" I could only insist that 
the ruins had been still there that very morning; and he 
told me that the location was ideal for the story, as the 
Liziec River turns around that hill, and that beyond 
the Liziec was a wood, and beyond that a pond, and 
further still a rock, and a forest, and a farmhouse or 
manoir of good friends of his. After I had partially con- 
vinced him, he smiled quizzically. 'To think that you 
would have to come from America to tell me of ruins 
on my own property, which are the location of a legend 
you yourself found in a book that I have sold over my 
counter for twenty years!" 



i 



^erronife, tfje Innocent 



CHAPTER I. 

PERRONIK, THE "INNOCENT," USES HIS 
MOTHER-WIT. 

Most people grow old, but there have always been 
some in the history of the world who, though their 
body grew up, ever remained young in heart. Many 
are the causes of this; some are physically unable to 
take part in labor or war; others are debarred by their 
sex; some, on the contrary, merely manage to preserve 
their youth by love of nature, the fields and forests, 
the sea and sky. Then again others, like David of old, 
remain young in heart because of the fire of religious 
devotion in their soul; and some remain young not 
only because they love nature and religion, but because 
of the influence of holy people, like Samuel, who asso- 
ciated with the reverend Eli; and the Percival of the 
Holy Grail legends, the companion of his sainted 
sister. These simple-minded people, however, are by 
no means fools. They have a great deal of mother- 
wit, as was shown by David in his fight with Goliath; 
when the simple-minded youth succeeded where all 
others failed. Then again, many of them, in times 
past, acted as singers, bards, or entertainers. We 
remember that David played before Saul, and by 

5 



6 PERRONIK, THE INNOCENT. 

youthful cheeriness kept away the melancholy moods 
that darkened that life. 

So in Brittany, the extreme north-western corner 
of France, that juts out into the Atlantic Ocean, there 
has been, since time immemorial, a class of simple- 
minded people called ''idiots," or ''innocents," who 
were known by the white wands they carried, and the 
large horn-buttons on their cloaks. They wandered 
around the country, in the evenings stopping off at the 
nearest farm-house, sure of being entertained for the 
night. At supper, they would tell stories, or retail the 
news of the country-side. In the morning they would 
not be driven out to work, but be allowed to help the 
women, or do light helpful offices that required more 
grace and judgment than muscular effort. When they 
died, they were sincerely mourned, perhaps not so 
much for themselves, as for their being considered 
messengers and helpers from heaven. 

It was such an "innocent," by name Perronik, who 
on a fine spring day knocked at the door of a farm- 
house a few miles north-west of the dreamy town of 
Vannes. The farmer's wife responded to his request for 
food with a bowl of fresh milk. Perronik thanked her, 
and sat down to enjoy it. "Madam," said he, "this 
milk is the sweetest, most delicately flavored beverage 
I ever tasted. I can almost see the thyme-pasture 
where the cow who gave it must have fed. And you 
must be a splendid housewife to have kept it so pure!" 
"I do not deserve much credit," smilingly answered 
the dame; "but the milk really is good, if I do say it 
myself. As I see that you are a judge of such things, 
I will bring you some of my cheese, and I would be 
glad to have you tell me whether, you think it is good." 
So she brought out some of her new cheese, cut a 
g-enerous slice, and gave it to Perronik. The latter 
tasted it slowly. Then, after the manner of persons 
who are delivering a weighty judgment, he shut one 
eye, cocked his head, and clacked his tongue. "I 



f'ERRONIK, THE INNOCENT. 7 

would not have believed it possible," answered he, 
"to find any cheese that combines so much smooth- 
ness, bouquet and tang. It is a masterpiece, that the 
country-side will long remember!" and- then, to con- 
vince himself still more, he accepted another hunk of 
it, laid it on the brown rye bread, and chewed it 
meditatively, still expatiating on its merits. ''Wait a 
moment," said the radiant housewife. "Wait till I 
bring you some of my new sausages! They will taste 
all the better after the cheese!" Soon she came out 
of the house with a most luscious specimen of the 
sausage-maker's art, and Perronik had just given it 
one good bite when .... Here is where our story 
begins. 



CHAPTER II. 

PERRONIK BECOMES A SHEPHERD. 

Around the bend of the road trotted a large heavy 
charger, bearing a knight in full armor, with plume 
and helmet, shield and lance. Resplendent in gay 
colors, and merrily humming a tune, he stopped in 
front of the farm-house door, and condescendingly 
shouted at the respectful peasant woman, ''Ho there, 
woman! Which is the way to the castle of Kerglas? " 
*'Don't go there, my lord, it is dangerous!" tremb- 
lingly answered the buxom woman. ''Dangerous it 
may be!" retorted the shimmering knight, "but where 
else can I get the Golden Basin, and the Diamond 
Lance?" "You are right," answered the woman, 
"nowhere else can you get those; but what good will 
they do you, if you do not return?" "That is where 
you are mistaken," boasted he. "I expect to return, 
because I have just been at confession to the holy 
hermit of Blauvelt; and with his parting benediction, 
he told me the dangers I should meet; and 'fore- 
warned is forearmed,' you know!" "Well, if you 
must go," said the kindly dame regretfully, "the road 
leads over yonder meadow, and through that dark 
forest!" "Thank you," said the knight; and he was 
just preparing to leave, when Perronik, who, behind 
the safe shelter of a wall, had been listening to all 
that had been going on, and who, on seeing the knight 
prepare to leave, concluded he had nothing to fear, felt 
his curiosity get the better of him. "My lord," cried 
he deferentially, "pray tarry a moment!" "What for? " 
cried the knight disdainfully. "Would you be willing 
to tell us what were the dangers of which the reverend 

8 



PERRONIK, THE INNOCENT. 9 

hermit of Blauvelt warned you? It would be very 
interesting!" pleaded Perronik, who, with a story- 
teller's genuine interest scented some interesting de- 
tails. *'Do you feel at liberty to tell 'them to us?" 
''Of course!" growled the noble knight. "Why should 
I be afraid to tell them? First, I have to find my way 
through the Deceptive Forest. Then I must pick the 
Golden Apple that grows on a tree guarded by a lion — 
what chance will the lion have with my shield and 
lance? Then I must get the Nodding Flower which 
grows on the rock guarded by the three-headed dragon, 
with the iron ball, with which he attacks his enemies. 
Then I will come to the Lake of the Scaly Monsters; 
but what can they do against my armor? Then I 
must ride through the Forest of the Sirens; and last, 
I come to the River of Death. Crossing this, I shall be 
at the foot of the mountain on the summit of which 
is the castle of Kerglas." 

'Thank you, my lord!" bowed the delighted Per- 
ronik, and the scornful knight trotted out of sight, 
shouting his war-cry, and singing about the beautiful 
eyes of the lady to whom he was to bring back the 
Golden Basin and the Diamond Lance. 

Perronik sat down, and was resuming his interrupted 
gormandizing of the sausage when a distant halloo 
apprized the mistress of the farm-house that her own 
lord and master, the farmer, was approaching. She 
hastened to give him her dutiful greeting, and Perronik 
modestly stood up expectantly, to meet the man whose 
hospitality he sought. He had not long to wait before 
the appearance of the old man, with wrinkled nut- 
brown skin, blue cloth garments, and large beribboned 
black felt hat. The latter greeted the "innocent" pat- 
ronizingly, and invited him to sit down, which Per- 
ronik did without further ceremony. The farmer then 
asked him whether he would be willing to undertake 
guarding the sheep in the meadow, in exchange for 
board and lodging. Perronik bowed low, and expressed 



10 PERRONIK, THE INNOCENT. 

himself as delighted with the prospect of employment. 
So the farmer led the way along the same path the 
knight had taken to the sweet-grass meadow, where 
browsed a flock of gentle sheep. The farmer whistled 
for his dog to guard them, while he himself led Per- 
ronik to the edge of the forest, where he cut down a 
sapling and peeled off its bark, thus transforming it 
into the white wand characteristic of the ''innocents," 
but which, at the same time, was to serve as shepherd's 
crook. 

So the wandering bard became a shepherd, and like 
all shepherds, ever since the time of Abel, he cut little 
reeds, and made flutes of them, and whiled away the 
time by imitating the song of the many birds that made 
the forest vocal from early dawn, when they sang their 
matin chorus, until dusk, when once more they gath- 
ered on some high bushes, and after a furious orison, 
retired to their secret nests, twittering away into sleep. 
But it was the middle of the day that Perronik especial- 
ly enjoyed. Then the sheep, exhausted by the heat, 
would lie down in cool patches of shade. Their bells 
would be at rest, except for an occasional tinkle when 
a lamb would start in his dreams, imagining some wasp 
that had dashed itself at him. The winds had died 
down, and the birds were resting in their nests, except 
for an occasional chirp. Then, released from any 
anxiety, and even from his attempt to call the birds 
to himself by imitating their song, he would go over 
in his mind all the wonderful stories he lately had had 
no opportunity to tell. But chief of all, his mind was 
ever haunted by the gay knight on the quest of the 
Golden Basin and the Diamond Lance, in the castle of 
Kerglas. Perronik wondered whether the gay knight 
had succeeded or failed. Softly he laughed at the 
knight's self-confidence; for who better than a bard 
knew that pride goes before a fall ? And if the opposite 
were true, perhaps even he, the simple-minded ''inno- 
cent," might yet in the same quest succeed. 



CHAPTER III. 

HOW PERRONIK STARTED ON THE QUEST. 

So the peaceful days followed each other. The May 
flowers came out, and the forest was filled with many 
perfumes, as the winds blew from favorite nooks of 
the various flowers. One day Perronik was more than 
usually longing to have a chance to try those hazards 
that the knight had told of, when he rubbed his eyes. 
Was he awake? Was he in a trance? He pinched 
himself — yea, he was awake, even though around him 
played all the colors of the rainbow, right in and under 
the shadows of the trees. Then he heard loud rustling, 
and in view rode a giant, on an immense charger, and 
over his shoulder hung the Golden Basin and lay the 
Diamond Lance, coruscating with all the colors of the 
rainbow, violet, red, blue, yellow, green, and orange. 
Poor little Perronik, of course, was very much fright- 
ened; and he hid behind the bush, trembling, until the 
fearsome apparition had passed by. He was just about 
to return to his favorite couch in the grass, when he 
heard another irregular rustling. After his last ex- 
perience he quickly ran back to his hiding place, but 
nothing very terrible came up the forest-path, only a 
foal, coal-black like the giant's horse, indeed, but still 
no more than a festive baby, nibbling here at the suc- 
culent clover, then running along, kicking his heels up 
in the air, and behaving generally in the irresponsible 
manner characteristic of puppies and kittens. Perronik 
almost came out, but he saw among the arches of the 
trees an old man, with white hair flowing over his back, 

11 



12 PERRONIK, THE INNOCENT. 

while a long white beard waved gracefully down to 
his waist. The old man came forward, and tried to 
catch the foal; but the rascal would let the old man 
approach till almost within reach, and then would slip 
away, and seem to laugh at the patriarch. The latter, 
however, was not long at a loss. He picked up a stick, 
and started to draw a magic circle around the foal. 
The latter was carelessly nibbling at a green shoot, 
and looked around only when it was too late to escape. 
Anxiously he hopped around, but the old man relent- 
lessly coiled the magic line around him until the foal 
no longer could move; when the old man jumped on 
his back, rubbed out the line in the leaves, and the 
now frightened foal shot like a bolt through the green 
under-brush, and disappeared so fast that almost im- 
mediately perfect silence once more reigned around 
him. 

This was certainly an extraordinary proceeding, and 
Perronik long sat still thinking it over. But the after- 
noon breezes woke up the sheep, and they shifted 
towards the forbidden river, and Perronik had to run 
after them. Yet he did not cease to question himself 
about the whole course of events; and when, during 
his first leisure, which did not occur before next noon, 
he again lay on his couch of spear-grass in the shade 
of the bush, he thought out various solutions. But 
hardly had he begun to do so, when once more he 
noticed, playing about him, strange scintillations, such 
as the light-birds of a mirror in the hands of an inat- 
tentive boy at school. Barely had he time to retreat to 
his hiding place, before he was again almost blinded 
by the rainbow colors streaming from the Golden Basin 
and the Diamond Lance on the back of the giant on 
horse-back. And no sooner had he passed, than Per- 
ronik again heard the playful colt disporting himself 
in the forest path. Even at a distance Perronik had 
already noticed the grey robe of the white-haired pa- 
triarch, when suddenly his curiosity spurred him to 



PERRONIK, THE INNOCENT. 13 

action. He picked up a stick, himself started to draw 
the magic circle around the colt, closer and closer, untli 
the colt was in his power; and then Perronik quickly 
turned to bar the passage of the onward rushing old 
man. ''Stop!" shouted Perronik, raising his stick as 
if to defend the circle he had drawn. The old man 
halted, but pled with Perronik to let him have his colt. 
''No indeed," exulted Perronik, "you shall not have 
your colt, old man, until you have told me the mean- 
ing of this strange occurrence, the passing of the giant, 
and your riding away on the colt!" The old man 
looked much relieved, and said, "The meaning is sim- 
ple enough. The giant who just passed along is my 
younger brother Rogear, who took the Golden Basin 
and Diamond Lance from me one day while I was 
asleep; and with their possession I lost the rule of the 
castle of Kerglas. Therefore when he goes abroad to 
visit his domain and see to the safety of the Golden 
Apple and the Nodding Flower, I follow after him, in 
the hope I may wrest my property back from him in 
some moment of carelessness of his." "But why do 
you catch and ride the foal?" insisted the inquisitive 
Perronik. "Because I myself can no longer return to 
the castle on foot. My brother stole the black horse 
away from me, and only the foal knows the short way 
back to the castle, or can take me safe through the 
Lake of the Scaly Monsters, or the River of Death, 
even though 1 be the magician Bryak! Now that I 
have answered your impertinent questions, youth, be 
faithful to your promise, and give me back my foal!" 
"Very well," assented Perronik, "you may take him, 
now you have told me your story." For Perronik 
was a story-teller, and he considered a good story 
worth even a magic foal. So the old man rushed upon 
the foal, jumped on him, effaced the magic circle in 
one place so as to release the frightened colt, and shot 
off into the forest even quicker than the day before. 



14 PERRONIK, THE INNOCENT. 

Perronik, too, was very happy, and retired to his 
grassy nook, and reviewed again and again the charm- 
ing story. It was so full of wonder and human interest, 
that his mind flew back to the brave knight he had 
seen confidently ride off on this quest, which must 
have been uunsuccessful. Then rose up within Per- 
ronik, from some mysterious recess in his soul, a 
thought that made him catch his breath. ''What if I 
should now try my hand at this quest, now that the 
proud knight has failed, and is out of it? True, I am 
only an "innocent"; but God loves the innocent; and 
with His help, perhaps, I might accomplish what was 
impossible to the knight who trusted alone in his shield 
and spear! After all, I can do no more than fail; and 
should I succeed, the glory would be so great, it would 
be well worth the risk. Yea, I shall try it. But I will 
need help. Earthly aid there is none, for I have no 
armor; and after all, the earthly armor of the brave 
knight seems to have done him but little good. No! 
I will seek help divine; there lies my only hope!" 



CHAPTER IV. 

PERRONIK CONQUERS THE LION. 

So Perronik prayed all afternoon, and towards even- 
ing he drove his sheep into their cote long before sun- 
set, in spite of the plaintive objections of the mother- 
sheep. Then he sallied forth and made a few prepara- 
tions; put everything in a ''bissac," or bag he could 
easily sling over his shoulder, hid it in the forest under 
his favorite bush, and lay down on his couch at the 
farm with a prayer for divine help. During the night 
he received assurances of success in a dream; for he 
saw a Hand beckoning him on to the Golden Basin 
and Diamond Lance. Then he rose up early, before 
dawn; went out to the edge of the forest where he 
could watch the sunrise, and prayed again, till tears 
dimmed his sight, and he swore to the rising sun that 
he would start out on the great and holy quest that 
very day. Then he went about his daily duties, and as 
soon as he had driven his sheep to the field, he lay 
down under the trees, and listened to every bird and 
insect, hoping to receive some helpful suggestion from 
them. The birds came very near him, for he lay quite 
still, and their song seemed to be telling him they would 
help him in his hour of need. Then weariness came 
over him, and he dozed off into a troubled sleep, from 
which he suddenly started, when he felt once more 
playing over him the scintillations he had seen the two 
days before. Hastily he jumped behind the bush, only 
just in time to avoid attracting the attention of the 
scowling giant, who, on that morning, seemed to be, 
if possible, more ferocious than ever. Then Perronik 
anxiously peered down the forest-lane for the foal. 

15 



16 PERRONIK, THE INNOCENT. 

This morning the foal had strayed from the forest- 
path; and suddenly returned to it almost where Per- 
ronik stood. The latter indeed barely had time to seize 
a stick and start his magic circle around the nibbling 
equine baby; but he succeeded, and drew the circle 
closer and closer till the foal could no longer move, 
though he struggled bravely. Perronik had had to work 
fast, for already he heard the frantic shouts of the 
magician Bryak, commanding him to desist. But Per- 
ronik jumped on to the back of the foal, effaced a little 
part of the circle, and just as Bryak had caught up with 
him, Perronik dug his heels into the panting side of 
the quivering beast, and sped off into the forest so fast 
that all the trees seemed to fuse into one long lane; 
and he had hardly managed to readjust himself, after 
having been dragged through low-hanging branches, 
when, to his surprise, he saw that the first stage of 
his journey was over, for, in front of him, hung, on a 
graceful tree, the Golden Apple of which he had been 
told. 

So glad was Perronik that he never thought of any- 
thing else; but he was recalled to stern reality by the 
fearsome roaring of a giant lion, who bounded into 
his path, opened his ravenous maw, and crouched for 
a spring. Now, as all little boys and girls know, *'being 
good is a lonely and hungry job." The bigger the lion, 
the bigger his appetite; and yet this faithful guardian 
of the Golden Apple could not hunt. He had to wait 
till Providence sent him some food, in the shape of 
people who followed the quest of the Golden Basin 
and Diamond Lance; and they were few and far be- 
tween. So you can imagine the poor animal's hunger, 
and we can excuse his awful excitement, when he saw 
some prey riding right straight into his jaws, as it were. 

Perronik, at first, was struck motionless with terror. 
But just then he heard one of his favorite bird-friends 
singing in the branches above him; so he recovered 
himself, and did some lightning-like thinking. Off he 



PERRONIK, THE INNOCENT. 17 

jumped from the horse; he fell on his knees, extended 
his hands, in supplication, and cried out most humbly. 
'Tlease, Mr. Lion, compose yourself for a minute. 
Listen to me, for I cannot escape you anyway. Now 
if you eat me up first, the edge of your appetite will 
be blunted, and you will not be able properly to relish 
the delicious larks I have brought you here in my bag. 
If, on the contrary, you first partake of them, as candy, 
you will enjoy their delicious flavor to the full. Then, 
after having done them full justice, you can appease 
the body of your appetite on me, who cannot escape 
you any more, even if I tried. Will you not allow me 
to offer them to you, kind Mr. Lion?" 

Even lions, you know, cannot resist courtesy and 
thoughtfulness; and with an austere nod the huge beast 
sat down on its haunches, andf^began licking its chops 
in anticipation of the feast. jSo Perronik stood up, 
carefully opened the mouth of his bag, and held it up 
before the lion, who thrust his greedy head into it. 
Hardly had he done so, however, when Perronik drew 
the bag all the way over it; and imagine the reason- 
able dismay of the lion when, instead of larks, he 
found nothing but a mixture of glue and feathers! Of 
course, he pulled back his head, but with the head came 
the bag! Then he pawed at it; he lashed his poor in- 
offensive flanks with his tufted tail; he roared as loud 
as he could under the distressing circumstances, he 
danced on his hind legs; he rolled over; he bent him- 
self double, and straightened himself out like a spring 
when released; he rolled himself into a ball; he dug 
himself into the ground; but all in vain; and the poor 
beast would still be struggling even till the present time, 
had not Perronik, after climbing up the tree and drop- 
ping straight down to the ground in his hurry, drawn 
off his bag, jumped on the foal, and sped away, while 
the poor misguided lion was still trying to get the 
sticky feathers out of his eyes, so he could see enough 
to settle accounts with Perronik; but he was too late. 



CHAPTER V. 

PERRONIK OUTWITS THE UNSLEEPING 
DRAGON. 

So Perronik sped through the forest till he came up 
flat against a rock. His late experience made him 
a little more thoughtful; and he remembered that the 
Nodding Flower, 'that grew here, was guarded by a 
hellish dragon, with four eyes and an iron ball, with 
which he crushed his opponents. Every six hours one 
of the four eyes would close in slumber, relieving the 
others, so the dragon was awake day and night, and 
there was no hope of overcoming him while off his 
guard. This, indeed, was a puzzling proposition, and 
Perronik gingerly picked his way without making a 
noise to the opposite side of the rock. Even this very 
light noise had wakened the other three eyes of the 
hellish dragon; and Perronik was in as great trouble 
as possible. So he tied the foal where it could browse 
in sweet clover, and Perronik threw himself down on 
the grass, and started to think. So Perronik thought, 
and thought, and thought; but no solution came to 
him. In despair he gave it up, and fell to enjoying 
the forest scenery, and relapsed into his favorite occu- 
pation, that of listening to the birds. Now if you were 
listening to birds, could any boy or girl keep from 
imitating them? So Perronik grew tired. Then, hop- 
ing to get some suggestion, he peeped over the rock 
at the hellish dragon, who lay coiled in his lair beside 
the coveted flower. Of course, Perronik expected to 
see the hellish dragon's first eye asleep, as it should 

18 



PERRONIK, THE INNOCENT. 19 

have been. But imagine Perronik's surprise on seeing 
the second eye also about to close; the eyelid fluttered, 
and finally came to a rest in complete repose. At first 
Perronik could not account for this; but he remem- 
bered how the eyes of the sheep in his pasture at home 
behaved exactly like that when he had been whistling 
particularly well. At first he dismissed the thought 
as absurd; but, on reflection, he decided that he could 
prove the point by making an experiment on the third 
eve. So he lay back and whistled the best he knew. 
Never had he made such runs, such trills, such ca- 
dences, such rhythms, such melodies. First you might 
have thought he were a lark, then a whippoorwill, then 
a canary, and finally a nightingale. He would listen 
to the birds above him, and improve on their bursts 
and pleadings. Then he looked over the rock again, 
and indeed, the third eyelid of the hellish dragon was 
fluttering down, just like that of a sleepy pussy. A 
few more calls like that of the finch to his mate, and 
the eye was closed, watching the phantasmagoria of 
its dreams. 

Perronik was beside himself with joy. "This is 
easy!" almost shouted he to himself! So he settled 
himself down once more, and started to whistle better 
than ever. Indeed, he whistled so marvelously, that 
he surpassed even the birds whom previously he had 
merely imitated. The birds, who before had listened 
to his efforts with friendly condescension, now became 
envious. They fluttered angrily about him, and tried 
to drown his efforts, by a chorus louder even than that 
they sang at dusk and dawn. But Perronik only prof- 
ited by their efforts, because in improving on the sug- 
gestions they thus offered, he sang so much better 
than they that finally their hearts wilted within their 
little ruffled breasts, and they grew still, hungrily 
drinking in the magic melodies they heard. Then for 
the first time Perronik reached his supreme skill in 
whistling. Even the insects paused on the golden 



20 PERRONIK, THE INNOCENT. 

flowers; the bees stopped humming, and poised them- 
selves gracefully on the buttercups. 

But Perronik never forgot he was whistling for a 
purpose; and once more he peeped over the rock, and 
to his great delight he saw the hellish monster's fourth 
eye-lid fluttering just as the former eye-lids had done. 
So Perronik whistled more gently and drowsily, like 
the twittering of birds when disturbed by dreams, in 
their sleep; and then the fourth eye closed with a snap, 
and for the first time in his long life the hellish monster 
was entirely asleep. You may well believe that it did 
not take Perronik very long, noiselessly, to leap over 
the rock, and pick the Nodding Flower. He fastened 
it in his cap; picked up his bag, swung it over his 
shoulder, vaulted onto his impatient foal, and off they 
sped, showing a clean pair of heels to the wakened 
monster who stirred uneasily, as if feeling something 
was wrong, hissing hellishly, out of mere natural spite. 



CHAPTER VI. 

PERRONIK ESCAPES THE SCALY MONSTERS. 

But Perronik, by this time, was far and away; and 
nothing stopped him till he came to the Lake of the 
Scaly Monsters, Now, as often happens with dangerous 
or forbidden things, this dangerous lake was exceed- 
ingly beautiful. The blue sky was reflected in its still 
waters, and the willows by the side seemed to bend 
down lovingly to toiich their perfect reflection in the 
slimy depths of the treacherous pool. Perronik, how- 
ever, had not mu(ph time to contemplate all these 
beauties, for by this time, the foal was not only tired 
but hungry; and when Perronik sought to guide the 
foal around the lake, the foal impatiently jumped right 
in and swam, so as to get home the sooner. At first 
all went well; and Perronik was enjoying the unusual 
view when his horrified gaze fixed on a circle of still 
water, around which was a fringe of boiling waves. 
Then, out of the tranquil pool he saw rising horny 
scales, and then what he recognized as an opening 
maw. Imagine the maw of a crocodile, but as big as a 
whale; then you will forgive brave Perronik for going 
all white, and trembling. The ferocious row of teeth 
rose in air; the water began to flow into the enormous 
black hole. A current set in, and in spite of all the 
efforts of the plucky foal, Perronik felt himself surely, 
if slowly, drawn in to the monster's maw. In his 
extremity he prayed. A bird darted over him, and 
uttered a piercing shriek, that reminded him of when 
he had had to protect the lambs when a hawk sailed 

21 



22 PERRONIK, THE INNOCENT. 

overhead. Then he remembered something he had in 
his bag. He reached in, and pulled out a black bean 
which, for safety's sake, he had had the good parish 
priest bless for him, the evening before his departure. 
This Perronik threw right into the yawning abyss. 
Now this scaly monster was not a holy scaly monster; 
and therefore, v^hen he felt the blessed bean tickling 
his soft palate he felt like vomiting, and in mighty 
eructations that looked like waterspouts, he tried to 
eject the bean, which had stuck in the hairs on his 
inner throat. Unfortunately, however, just as hap- 
pens to a boy or girl who in eating fish swallows a 
bone that sticks in the throat, all the branches and 
sticks which had easily gone down along with the 
swirl of water, now were turned side-wise; they stuck 
in his gills, and the more the beast regugitated, the 
more he choked. Finally he grew green in the face, 
flapped his monstrous fins, turned a somersault in the 
air, uttered a plaintive yowl, and careening over on 
his back, he gave up his wicked ghost. This, however, 
caused a whirlpool in the water, and Perronik who 
was circling around in the maelstrom, was, by the 
last tidal wave, driven onto the opposite shore. The 
brave little foal, feeling under his little hoofs firm 
ground, snorted and shook the slimy water out of his 
eyes and mane. Then he braced himself, galloped up 
the slope, and dashed for the shelter of the forest. 



CHAPTER VII. 
PERRONIK ESCAPES SIRENS. 

No doubt he would have been going still, had he 
not, with a sudden jolt that almost made Perronik 
come a cropper, stood still. Especially because his 
hairs were wet, did they look strange as they began 
to stand straight in horror, as the foal gazed on in 
stupefaction. There lay a heap of skeletons of brave 
knights, whose armor was strewn around in confusion. 
Evidently this was the most dangerous of all the haz- 
ards of the quest; knights who had escaped all former 
dangers, still had here fallen before the fatal charms 
of the enchanted sirens that infested these sylvan re- 
treats. Indeed, through the aisles of the forest Per- 
ronik described, approaching forms of beautiful women, 
golden-haired and starry-eyed, waving their arms in 
greeting, and chanting weird threnodies. What was 
the unfortunate Perronik to do? Lions, hellish, drag- 
ons, and even scaly monsters could be resisted; but 
what proper-minded youth can resist the fair charms 
of a lovely woman? Alas, I fear my story will have 
to end here; there seems no earthly rescue for our 
simple-minded "innocent." 

Perronik himself realized this; and so he betook 
himself to prayer. Then suddenly an idea popped into 
his mind. Just as the swish of the sirens' silken gar- 
ments began to becloud his reason, just as their per- 
fume made his head whirl, and buzz, as chloroform 
would have done, an inspiration came into his mind. 
He reached up, and, in spite of velvet hands that clung 

23 



24 PERRONIK, THE INNOCENT. 

like ivy-vines, he pulled the cap on his head down just 
far enough to reach over his eyes. Perronik being 
thus blinded, the sirens were powerless over him; and 
digging his heels into the sore ribs of the only too will- 
ing foal, Perronik, without ever stopping, was carried 
through the shady groves of the sirens; and not till 
his foal stopped still with a jerk, and his nose apprised 
him of the presence of a large body of water, his ears 
being filled with the omnious rushing of a river, did 
Perronik dare to push up his cap far enough to see 
that he had left the sirens' grove far behind, and was 
standing, by the side of a bush, on the very bank of 
the rapidly rolling River of Death, on the further side 
of which loomed up before him, not so very far, the 
noble mountain bearing the castellated outline of Ker- 
glas itself! 

He must cross; that was sure, but how? Of course, 
Rivers of Death have no bridges or even fords; or of 
what use would they be? What indeed was our hero 
to do? So puzzled was he, that he would be standing 
there till the present moment, but for a most unusual 
occurrence. From behind the bush sprang a beautiful 
lady, dressed in black silk, but with a complexion as 
yellow as sulphur. Perronik would indeed have re- 
treated before her, but she, like a wise woman, did 
not give him the time. She jumped up on the foal 
before him, and reached for the reins. Here is where 
Perronik's presence of mind reasserted itself. He 
clutched them tight, and only when she saw that she 
had no more to gain by boldness that, like many an- 
other haughty dame, the lady became as meek as 
butter, and as persuasive as honey. She told him 
that she knew that he was on the quest of the Golden 
Basin and the Diamond Lance; that he could not get 
it alone; but that if he had the Golden Apple and the 
Nodding Flower, and would ferry her over the River 
of Death which she, unaided, could never cross, she 
would help him in his quest. While Perronik had his 



PERRONIK, THE INNOCENT. 25 

doubts about the lady, nevertheless, because he had 
always been trained to be polite to ladies, he agreed 
to take her over. She, on her part, did not lose any 
time, but urged the willing foal. He jumped into the 
icy water, and, in spite of shivering, the brave little 
beast swam valiantly on, never stopping until he had 
safely reached the opposite bank. Fearful that the 
foal might take cold by standing still on leaving the 
freezing water, Perronik urged him on, and the equine 
trotted up the hill as fast as he could, neighing in an- 
ticipation of the oats he knew were awaiting him in 
the stables, beside his mother, the giant's black charger 
who, on her part, must be anxious, by this time, for 
her offspring's safety. So the horse climbed rapidly 
to the gate of the frowning castle, where both Per- 
ronik and the lady dismounted, and the foal trotted off 
by himself, neighing and capering, to the stable. 



CHAPTER VIII. 
PERRONIK ACHIEVES HIS QUEST. 

Our two travelers entered into the castle's gate, 
which, strange to say, they found open. They entered 
into the courtyard, but neither there did they discover 
anybody, knight or servant. So the Yellow Lady led 
Perronik to the main entrance, and up the steps, still 
deserted, into the vast dining hall of the castle. Here, 
seated at the festive board, sat only two individuals, 
the giant, Rogear, and by his side his hoary-haired 
brother, the magician Bryak, at a lower table. 

Now, of course, golden apples and fair ladies have 
ever, since the beginning of time, been the prey of 
giants, and who can blame giants for having the good 
taste to consider them designed for their special bene- 
fit? Therefore Rogear the giant, with a vertiginous 
leap, pounced upon Perronik. Rogear reached out for 
the Golden Apple; but as he bit into it, he sank into 
a seat, because it was poisoned; and as he lay hold on 
the willowy lady, he fell down stark dead; for, be it 
known, she was nothing less than the 'Tlague"! 

You can easily imagine that Perronik did not dally 
near her. Swiftly pulling the Nodding Flower out of 
his cap, he observed in which direction the flower nod- 
ded. So he followed it through a large door, down a 
hall, to a stairway; down this to the lower floor; then 
by a winding passage into the vaults. Past an iron 
door he went into a cave. Following a stream, in 
which he waded, he came into a vast amphitheatre, 
glistening with salt-formations, in the light of sun- 

26 



PERRONIK, THE INNOCENT. 27 

rays that filtered through some cracks. Then he fol- 
lowed the flower's directions into a passage so narrow 
he had to crawl on hands and knees; but, at last, he 
arrived into a chapel; and on the high altar, between 
ever-burning candles, lay the Golden Basin and the 
Diamond Lance! 

Perronik pounced upon them; but he was in such 
a hurry that the Diamond Lance knocked on the 
Golden Basin, emitting a peal as clear as that of a 
sacring-bell. When, however, Perronik came to him- 
self, he found himself back in the meadow, among the 
sheep he had so long neglected, with the Golden Basin 
hanging on his back, and the Diamond I ance in his 
hand. 



CHAPTER IX. 
PERRONIK BECOMES KING OF JERUSALEM. 

Now it is evident that no one who possessed the 
Golden Basin and the Diamond Lance would ever be 
willing to remain a shepherd. Therefore, after giving 
the mother-sheep a parting pat, and kissing his favorite 
lambs farewell, Perronik turned off on to the highway, 
and betook himself to the picturesque town of Vannes. 

Now it chanced, as happens in all well-regulated 
fairy-tales, that the king of Vannes had a beautiful 
daughter. At the same time, however, he was being 
pressed very hard by his enemies who, so far, had 
driven back all his armies, and defeated all his generals. 
In desperation, the king had made a proclamation that 
any one who would overcome his enemies should have 
the beautiful daughter to wife, and become king in his 
stead. On entering into Vannes, Perronik read the 
proclamation, and asked to be led to the king's palace. 
Having arrived there, he asked for an audience with 
the king. Only with great difficulty, however, did he 
succeed in obtaining it. Then the king laughed at Per- 
ronik, who offered to accomplish this feat; for Perronik 
was still garbed as an ''innocent," with white staff and 
horn buttons. Perronik, however, offered to give a 
demonstration of his powers. He touched the king 
of Vanne's best knight, who immediately fell down in 
his tracks, stone dead. Then, Perronik poured some 
of the water of the golden basin into the dead knight's 
mouth, whereupon he revived, as full of life and spirits 
as ever, finishing the word he had had on his lips 

28 



PERRONIK, THE INNOCENT. 29 

when he fell dead. The king of Vannes was convinced, 
and entrusted all his armies to Perronik. The latter, 
of course, in the might of the Golden Basin and the 
Diamond Lance, was victorious over the embattled 
hosts of the enemy, and reduced them to abject sub- 
mission. Leading their chieftains in chains to the 
palace of the king of Vannes, the latter gave him his 
blushing daughter to wife, and set Perronik upon his 
throne, himself retiring to meditation in a monastery. 

Although Perronik was, for a short time, happy as 
husband of his marvellously beautiful wife, and as 
king of the good town of Vannes; who could expect the 
owner of the Golden Basin and the Diamond Lance 
to be satisfied with being king of even Vannes, that 
beautiful, and famous city? So Perronik demanded 
the crown of France. Leading his ever-victorious 
armies, Perronik succeeded even in this, and finally 
was crowned king of France, and reigned in Paris. 

But, although for a brief space of time, Perronik 
was happy as king of France, the owner of the Golden 
Basin and the Diamond Lance could not be expected 
to be satisfied with even that dignity. He must become 
emperor of Rome. And indeed, leading his ever- 
victorious armies, Perronik achieved this supreme 
dignity also. 

Still, though, for a short space of time Perronik was 
content with the dominion of the empire of Rome, it 
would be unreasonable to suppose that the owner of 
the Golden Basin and the Diamond Lance could ever 
grow satisfied, or cease to sigh for more worlds to con- 
quer. So Perronik started out to conquer Palestine, 
liberate it from the hated rule of the Saracen. At the 
head of his ever-victorious armies, indeed, Perronik 
accomplished this task also, and was crowned king of 
Jerusalem. 



30 PERRONIK, THE INNOCENT. 

But, strange to say, Perronik was never heard of 
again. His fate ever remained a mystery; but the 
best-informed say that one day, while he was asleep, 
the old magician Bryak deprived him of the Golden 
Basin and the Diamond Lance, and hid them again in 
the mountain beneath the castle of Kerglas, where 
they remain hidden, until they shall once more be 
found by some younger Perronik who shall restore to 
Brittany her rightful sovereignty over the world. 




J-'BRARY OF CONGRESS 

015 898 460 a 



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U liH (II 



